Kalen DeBoer Updates Status of Two Questionable Tight Ends Before Oklahoma

The Alabama head coach shared the chances of Josh Cuevas and Danny Lewis Jr. being available for the first round of the College Football Playoff.

Sep 6, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama tight end Josh Cuevas (80) catches a touchdown pass against UL Monroe at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated UL Monroe 73-0. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images | Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Alabama released its initial injury report on Tuesday evening ahead of its road matchup against Oklahoma in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

Before Friday's game, the Crimson Tide's report had six players listed as "out." It also had two players, both tight ends, listed as "questionable." Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer shared a positive update on "questionable" tight ends Josh Cuevas and Danny Lewis Jr. during Wednesday's Zoom press conference.

“Both of them will be available,” DeBoer said.

Cuevas reportedly suffered a foot injury during practice before the Eastern Illinois game and hasn't played since then. He has put together a very solid season, as he's up to 30 receptions for 341 yards and four touchdowns. He's made clutch plays in big games, and on Oct. 7, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson compared Cuevas to NFL greats Travis Kelce and George Kittle.

“Experience, athleticism, just consistent in everything, knows his assignment,” DeBoer said of Cuevas on Wednesday. “He’s been in the system now three years, and so, he can kind of do it all. He’s comfortable in the box, on the line, flexed out. All the little things that we really utilize our tight ends for, he’s just extremely comfortable doing it.”

Lewis has only appeared in five games this season due to multiple injuries that haven't been officially diagnosed. He's been on the sideline during games while wearing street clothes with a boot on his left foot during the games that he was out.

“The progress continues to happen,” DeBoer said of Lewis. “Danny’s is just going to continue to be ongoing like it has. And so, we’re just utilizing him just to certain packages because he’s not necessarily an every-play type of guy, as far as just with the limitations he has. And so, he’ll be ready to go, but he’s a big body in there that we can utilize in ways. He knows the offense really well, also.”

As previously stated, while these two tight ends should be good to go for Friday, the same could not be said for the six Alabama players who are already listed as out: Defensive backs Kameron Howard, and Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., defensive linemen LT Overton and Jeremiah Beaman, linebacker Jah-Marien Latham and running back Kevin Riley.

Alabama's first-round matchup against Oklahoma is set to kick off on Friday at 7 p.m. CT in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on ESPN and ABC.

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